“Keep a hobby and ride it with enthusiasm. It will keep you out of mischief, to say the least; it will keep you cheerful. Here as in all things you can apply the Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (for the greater glory of God).” – Fr. Lasance, My Prayer Book
Being creative is something that we love to do here!
We all have some sort of creativity within us. Oftentimes it lays dormant because of busy lifestyles, lack of ambition, finances, etc.
This post is meant to encourage you to pick up that needle, that paintbrush, pick that bouquet for the middle of your table, get your camera and go out in nature to take a photo, etc. These things bring joy to the one who is creating and joy to the recipients! It doesn’t take a degree, lots of money or tons of time.
I think it is very important to bring back to life the creativity that God has given us! Don’t let your lifestyle get so busy that you don’t squeak in a little something, just a moment or two where you can let those creative juices flow! It is like therapy to a weary soul!
Some of my girls are not creative in the way you would think of creativity. I tell you this because there are many ways to express ourselves….baking, a lovely dinner, a beautiful garden, etc. It’s not all about a needle and some yarn….Find your niche and begin your innovative path!
All of my daughters and daughters-in-law have creative streaks, every one of them, expressing them in different ways. I don’t have pictures of each one’s “streaks” but I have included some of them here.
Also, we have been perusing a site called Paint it Beautiful on Facebook where they teach you how to rejuvenate old furniture and turn it into something new with a paintbrush, stencils or maybe a transfer or two. It has been a lot of fun and a cheaper way of brightening up your home without having to buy new things to replace outdated items. (Which we don’t usually do anyway….we wear them out, outdated or not!)
Anyway, these past few months we have done some creating around here. Here is our “Creativity” Gallery….
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- I needed a new look for these oak cupboard doors. So I painted them bayberry.
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- Virginia picked up the knobs for me from Hobby Lobby.
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- And I got this wall print to add to the look.
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- I wish I had a before picture of this. It was very dark and well, kind of yucky. So I was pleased with the outcome.
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- This little bench was dark before I got started painting it. I used sharpies to do the doodles on it.
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- Jeanette did her little bench and used stencils for the butterflies.
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- Our two wooden doors in the kitchen were very dirty and marked up. So Angelo sanded them. Vincent did a bayberry “wash” on them so it didn’t completely cover the wood.
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- This stenciling is a little tricky. You have to be careful to have your paintbrush almost dry or it will drip.
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- Looks nice when it’s done.
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- Top right is what Gin’s chair looked like. It was still a very nice chair, just dirty.
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- So…you guessed it! Gin painted it! Looks lovely doesn’t it?
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- Here’s the next project she is going to tackle.
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- Vincent is working on a job and the door was replaced. He brought this old door home. Gin and I both agreed it was beautiful! It is now the door on their office and Gin will have fun painting all the intricate parts!
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- I bought 5 of these chairs (on the right) from a garage sale. After painting and reupholstering (adding a transfer) they transformed into the left picture!
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- I repainted our old round table that was covered in hard glue (we glued our puzzles on it). It now looks like a brand new set!
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- I got this little dresser from our lovely little Thrift Shop and asked Virginia if she wanted to redo it.
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- So she did! And gave it to me for my birthday!
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- Isn’t it lovely?
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- The drawers had old, dusty velvet lining them.
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- Here’s another one of Gin’s lovelies!
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- I repainted an older baker’s rack.
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- I used the colors of soapstone and coral.
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- Then stenciled a flourish.
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- It’s now our coffee nook.
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- An old window Vincent brought home from his remodeling job.
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- I decided to make it into something unique. It sits on top of the cupboard.
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- Our prie-dieu needed an overhaul….
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- We were exchanging project pictures via text. This is the picture Theresa sent with the caption: If you think you’re crafty, you need to take a look at what I did! Two weeks ago I painted half a crate yellow, then got pooped out and never finished it. I call it “lacrate ombre.” I’m thinking of giving classes, if anyone’s interested.
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- Vincent is building a shade garden for Grandma.
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- This picture doesn’t do it justice….it is so lovely!
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- And this is what it looks like at night.
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- We often pray our rosary up at her apartment, with the frogs jumping about. Quite lovely!
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- Rosie and Angelo have been the landscapers. They built this rock wall beside the Knockout roses.
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- They tilled and reseeded this grass that Vincent is mowing.
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- Jeanette’s sourdough bread.
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- Theresa painted their little rocker.
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- And their plant stand to match.
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- This is Z’s wreath…with an old window as the stage.
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- Theresa made this wreath…
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- And this one.
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- This is the center of Jeanette’s table with one of Rosie’s doilies part of the display.
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- The Knockout roses right now are, well… knock outs! This is the middle of our table with lots of lovely flowers and Rosie’s pretty doily that she gave me for Mother’s Day. (St. Anne graces the middle of the table, too) ❤️
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- Jeanette took this beautiful picture last night after the storm…
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- And last but not least, Agnes has something for show and tell, too! She’s growing up! 🙂
Good Morning Leane!! Thank you so much for sharing all the wonderful projects you and your family have been working on….. All I see is happiness, an abundance of creativity and homes filled with so much love♥️!! I am so INSPIRED to take a look around my home and see what I can do to change it up a bit.. Look at something I already own and make it look like new! It was so nice to see Rosie , please share with her how very much I love the beautiful doilie she made…it is a treasure I will always keep! May God keep each one of you safe in His care! 🙏🏻♥️
Hi Agnes, Thank you for sharing your show and tell- I can see that you are growing up indeed!!!!God Bless You Agnes!♥️
Wow busy bees! 🙂 Very pretty! Are you doing the family weekend this year? Also, when is your renaissance or Shakespeare fair?
Wonderful! Gpd bless you
Thank You for sharing all these wonderful projects. You have a talented family. God Bless.
Marilyn
These projects are so lovely. I- shows just what a little ambition,talent and patience can do. Such a lovely family. Blessings to all.
Joan
What great results with the projects. The finished results are beautiful. God Bless you and yours.
Marion
So glad to see you turning some of our old stuff into treasures!